The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

“Satyavati having succeeded with great difficulty
in procuring the assent of her virtuous daughter-in-law
to her proposal which was not inconsistent with virtue,
then fed Brahmanas and Rishis and numberless guests
who arrived on die occasion.’”

SECTION CVI

(Sambhava Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’Soon after the monthly
season of the princess of Kosala had been over, Satyavati,
purifying her daughter-in-law with a bath, led her
into the sleeping apartment. There seating her
upon a luxurious bed, she addressed her, saying, ’O
Princess of Kosala, thy husband hath an elder brother
who shall this day enter thy womb as thy child.
Wait for him tonight without dropping off to sleep.’
Hearing these words of her mother-in-law, the amiable
princess, as she lay on her bed, began to think of
Bhishma and the other elders of the Kuru race.
Then the Rishi of truthful speech, who had given his
promise in respect of Amvika (the eldest of the princesses)
in the first instance, entered her chamber while the
lamp was burning. The princess, seeing his dark
visage, his matted locks of copper hue, blazing eyes,
his grim beard, closed her eyes in fear. The
Rishi, from desire of accomplishing his mother’s
wishes, however knew her. But the latter, struck
with fear, opened not her eyes even once to look at
him. And when Vyasa came out, he was met by his
mother, who asked him, ‘Shall the princess have
an accomplished son?’ Hearing her, he replied,
’The son of the princess she will bring forth
shall be equal in might unto ten thousand elephants.
He will be an illustrious royal sage, possessed of
great learning and intelligence and energy. The
high-souled one shall have in his time a century of
sons. But from the fault of his mother he shall
be blind ’At these words of her son, Satyavati
said, ’O thou of ascetic wealth, how can one
that is blind become a monarch worthy of the Kurus?
How can one that is blind become the protector of
his relatives and family, and the glory of his father’s
race? It behoveth thee to give another king unto
the Kurus.’ Saying, ’So be it,’
Vyasa went away. And the first princess of Kosala
in due time brought forth a blind son.

“Soon after Satyavati, O chastiser of foes,
summoned Vyasa, after having secured the assent of
her daughter-in-law. Vyasa came according to his
promise, and approached, as before, the second wife
of his brother. And Ambalika beholding the Rishi,
became pale with fear And, O Bharata, beholding her
so afflicted and pale with fear, Vyasa addressed her
and said, ’Because thou hast been pale with
fear at the sight of my grim visage, therefore, thy
child shall be pale in complexion. O thou of
handsome face, the name also thy child shall bear will
be Pandu (the pale).’ ’Saying this,
the illustrious and best of Rishis came out of her
chamber. And as he came out, he was met by his
mother who asked him about the would-be-child.